Gators' Second Half Rally Falls Short at Simmons

BOSTON, Mass. -- Trailing 42-29 at halftime, Pine Manor rallied to take a 74-72 lead with 4:39 to play but the Gators were unable to hang on, dropping a 78-74 decision to Simmons College at the the Holmes Sports Center on Saturday afternoon.

The win is the first of the season for Simmons, improving their overall record to 1-5. Pine Manor drops to 2-5 overall with the setback, finishing a string of five consecutive road games with a record of 2-3.

Pine Manor freshman Sybil Lynch (Hoboken, NJ) scored a game-high 20 points. Sophomore Natasia Franklin (Windsor, CT) and freshman Alexis Lee (Akron, OH) each added 16 points for the Gators. Lee scored 14 of her 16 in the second half, knocking down three three-pointers to help fuel the Gator rally.

Pine Manor outscored Simmons 45-36 in the second half. Lee knocked down back-to-back three pointers to tie the contest at 60-all with 9:18 to play. She then gave the Gators a 63-60, adding a two-point jumper and a made free throw on the next two Pine Manor possessions.

Simmons then battled back as the teams exchanged baskets before becoming deadlocked at 72 following a jumper by Simmons junior Hannah May (Hamden, CT).

PMC freshman Meagan Badohu put the Gators ahead, 74-72, for the final with 4:18 remaining. However, Simmons would tie the score, at 74-74, with just under four minutes to play when Georgia Kostopoulos (Cambridge, MA) scored on a put-back after collecting an offensive rebound during the Sharks next possession.

After a Pine Manor turnover at 3:39, O'Connor hit a jump shot to give the Sharks the lead, 76-74. O'Connor then added another bucket with :48 seconds to play to secure a 78-74 Simmons victory.

Pine Manor will close out the first semester tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 PM when they host Bard at Brunelli Court.